This Easter, stick to chocolate bunnies

The Seattle Animal Shelter encourages people to think twice before purchasing a live bunny, duckling or chick as an Easter gift this holiday season.

“People often don’t think about these cute little animals growing up into adult animals that require a commitment to provide daily care for the rest of their lives,” says Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Rabbits, for example, are not so easy to keep. They require a lot of socialization and time, and can’t just be left stuck in a cage.

Unfortunately, each year after Easter, animal shelters are inundated with bunnies, ducklings, and chicks relinquished by people who bought them on a whim. Many must be euthanized due to a lack of available homes.

Edna

Others are released into the wild when people tire of them, often at our own Woodland Park. According to the Woodland Park Rabbit website, most of the rabbits you see hopping around the park are domestic rabbits that have been abandoned by their owners. Unable to fend for themselves, they usually die of starvation or exposure to the elements, or are preyed upon by other animals.

If you are committed to adding a bunny to your household, please consider adopting one. Edna, left, is a sweet little girl bunny who is available for adoption with her pal Bun-Bun. To see more pictures of this pair, click here.